THE CAUCUS; A G.O.P. Apology

By KATE PHILLIPS

Published: April 15, 2008

A Kentucky congressman apologized to Senator Barack Obama on Monday, after calling him a ''boy'' in doubting whether Mr. Obama was prepared to deal with national security issues.

The lawmaker, Representative Geoff Davis, of Northern Kentucky, was at a fund-raising dinner on Saturday night when the remarks were made. The state's two senators, Mitch McConnell, the minority leader, and Jim Bunning, were also in attendance.

Mr. McConnell, who is up for re-election this year, offered the lead-in to the remarks by talking about the war in Iraq and what Republicans perceive as the Democratic candidates' weaknesses on national security.

The Lexington Herald-Leader quoted the remarks of the elected officials in an article on Sunday. ''I fear the two Democrats, one in particular, is incredibly na?,'' Mr. McConnell was quoted as saying.

Mr. Davis took the criticism of Mr. Obama a few steps further, likening his slogan for change to the pitch of a ''snake oil salesman.'' He then relayed to the audience that he had taken part in a ''highly classified national security simulation'' with Mr. Obama.

''I'm going to tell you something,'' Mr. Davis continued. ''That boy's finger does not need to be on the button. He could not make a decision in that simulation that related to a nuclear threat to this country.''

As the comments circulated on the Internet, Bill Burton, a spokesman for the Obama campaign, issued a statement on Monday, saying in part: ''It's hard to tell what is more outrageous: Representative Davis's condescending and personal attack, or his absurd and offensive claim that Barack Obama is not prepared to defend America.''

Jeremy Hughes, Mr. Davis's campaign manager, said the congressman immediately delivered a letter of apology to Mr. Obama's office on Monday when he returned to Capitol Hill.

Mr. Davis, according to The Associated Press, lamented his ''poor choice of words.'' KATE PHILLIPS